Hydrometer



'S. D. WELLS.

HYDROMETER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.9, 1918.

1,369,510, Patented Feb. 22, 1921.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY D. WELLS, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO THE UNIT ED STATES O1 AMERICA.

axnnonnrm 7 '0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SIDNEY D. Wants, a" citizen of the United States, residin at Madison, in the county of Dane and 1 tate of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Hydrometer, of which the followinglis -a specification.

s y invention relates to hydrometers and in particular to a hydrometer designed to receive a continuous stream of fluid and to continuously register the specific gravity of this fluid. The principal object of my in-. vention is to roduce a hydrometer ofthis type which Wlll operate in a reliable man'- ner and give correct results without requiring extensive corrections. In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my hydrometer, and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof with the recording instruments and recording arm. removed. 1

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of. my hydrometer, 1 represents a frame suitably pivoted on trunnions 2 supported by any convenient base of support. This frame 1 comprises an annular section 3 carrying at one side a pair of vertical arms 4--6, and at the other side a clamping memher 5. Secured to the arm 6 is a tube 7, which is bent upward on the pivot side of the arm 6 and terminates in an upwardly directed funnel 8, substantially on a level with the pivotal axis of. frame 1, and having its axis along a vertical line through this pivotal axis. To the left of the arm 6 the inlet tube 7 extends horizontally for some distance, as is shown in the drawing, and then curves upwardly and is tightly connected to a spherical vessel 9. Leading from the top of this vessel is an outlet 10, which is secured to the end of the arm 4 and on' the other side of arm 4 is bent downwardly to terminate in a section whose axis is sub- -stantially along a vertical line through the pivotal axis of the frame 1 and whose mouth is on substantially the same level as this pivotal axis. Interposed in this downwardly extending section of the .tube 10 is a goose neck 11 provided with a vent 12. It will be noted that the vessel 9 is supported by the tubes 7 and 10. Secured to the clamp 5 is a downwardly extending arm 13 on which is ad'ustably mounted a counter weight 14. he downward extending arm, it will be noted, is placed at an angle below the horizontal line connecting the center. of

Specification of Letters Patent. at t 22,1 2

Application filed December 9, 1918. Serial No. 265,907. I

gravity of vessel 9 and a point in vertical plane in the line connecting the pivots, which results in automatically balancing the moving parts. portion of the frame 1 is an arm 15 carrying a stylus 16 which is so positioned as to swing over the dial 17 of a clock type recorder 18.

In the use of my apparatus the tubes 7 fluid whose specific gravity is to be recorded Secured to any convenient is then turned into the hydrometer by permitting .it to flow into the funnel '8 and thence through the tube 7, vessel 9', tube 10, and goose neck 11, into a discharge pipe or otherwise as desired. As the specific gravity of the fluid changes, the weight of fluid in the system will change, inasmuch as the volume must remain constant. This change in weight will cause movement of the entire frame about the trunnions 2 and a corresponding movement of the stylus 16 across the dial 17. The dial 17 will be suitably calibrated to indicate directly the specific gravity of the fluid in the conduit system.

By placing the inlet and outlet openings substantially on alevel with the pivotal axis of the frame and causing their axes to be vertical lines through this pivotal axis, 'I so arrange my inlet and discharge that increase and decrease in the kinetic energy of the stream of fluid flowing into and out of the hydrometer will merely cause an increase or decrease in the force exerted on the trunnions and will not in any way tend to turn the frame about the trunnions. In this way I- insurethat the kinetic energy of the fluid will not afi'e'ct the position of the stylus 16 and accordingly I obviate any necessity for a'correction due to changes in velocity of the stream or for maintaining the velocity constant. By the use of the constant level goose neck 11, I insure that the conduit system will always'be filled with fluid and in this way I prevent any error in measurement due to suction or siphoning.- By the use'of a closed system of tubes and vessels I prevent any escape or spilling of the fluid and thus obviate any error which might arise in this way.

I consider the introduction and discharge of the fluid at the point ofv pivoted support,

.the use of the closed system, the insertion of the constant level goose neck, and the comv the scope of the appended claims.

1. A hydrometer comprising a vessel for holding fluid, an intake conduit and an outlet conduit therefor, pivoted supporting means fol-said vessel and conduits acting at a point remote from said vessel, said pivoted supporting means substantially coincident with the external termini of said 6onduits, said external termini extending substantially in opposite directions, and means counterbalancing said supported parts and the fluid normally therein contained.

2. A hydrometer comprising a vessel for holding fluid, an intake conduit and an outlet conduit therefor, pivoted supporting means for said vessel and conduits acting at a point remote from said vessel, said pivotedv supporting means substantially coincident with the external termini of said conduits, said external termini of said conduits placed substantially vertical to the axis of the said pivoted supporting means, and means ccunterbalancing said supported parts and the fluid normally therein contained.

3. A hydrometer comprising a vessel for holding fluid, an intake condult and an outlet conduit therefor, pivoted supporting means for said vessel and conduits acting at a point remote from said vessel, the externa terminal of said intake ending in an upwardly extending funnel in effect at said point of support, the external end of said outlet ending in a downwardly extendin part in effect at said point of support, and means counterbalancing 'said supported parts and the fluid normally therein contained. I

4; A h drometer comprising a vessel for holding uid, an intake conduit and an out let conduit therefor, supporting means for said vessel and conduits actingat a point remote from said vessel, means counterbalanclng said supported parts and the fluid normally contained therein, and means in said outlet conduit for maintaining constant the fluid level in said vessel.

5. A hydrometer comprising a vessel for holding fluid, an intake conduit and an outlet conduit therefor, supporting means for said vessel and conduits acting at a point remote from said vessel, means counterbalane ing said supported parts and the fluid normally contained therein, and means in said outlet conduit for maintaining constant the fluid level in said vessel, said level maintaining means comprising a vented goose-neck in said outlet conduit.

6,. A hydrometer comprising a vessel for holding fluid, an intake conduit and an outlet conduit therefor, said outlet conduit being K 7. A hydrometer comprising a close vessel for holding fluid, an intake tube and an outlettube, both tightly secured to said vessel, a pivoted supporting means for said vessel and tubes having its axis at a point remote from said vessel and in effect coincident with the external terminals of said tubes, and adjusta'ble'means for counterbalancing the above parts and the fluid normally contained therein, the external end of said inlet tube terminating in an upwardly extending funnel and the external end of said outlet tube terminating in a downwardly extending section.

8. A h drometer comprising a vessel for holding fl uid, an intake conduit and an outlet conduit therefor, the external end of said inlet conduit terminating in an upwardly ex tending funnel and the external'end of said outlet conduit terminating in a downwardly extending section, said outlet conduit being provided with a vented goose-neck to maintain said fluid at constant level in said ves sel, supporting means for said vessel and conduits acting at a point remote from said vessel means counterbalancing said supported parts and the fluid normally contained therein, and means in said outlet conduit for maintaining constant the fluid level in said vessel. 7

9. A hydrometer comprising a pivoted frame provided with an upwardly extending arm and a downwardly extending arm, an outlet-tube secured tosaid upwardly extendmg arm and having one end remote from the pivotal axis of said frame and the other end disposed substantially in said axis, an inlet tube secured to said downwardly extendin arm and having one end remote from sai axis and the other end disposed substantially in said axis, a closed vessel secured between said tubes and connected to them, and means for counterbalancing the above parts and the fluid normally contained therein.

10. A hydrometer comprising a pivoted frame provided with an upwardly extending arm and a downwardly extending arm, an outlet conduit secured to said upwardly extending arm and having one end remote from the pivotal axis of said frame and the other end disposed substantially in saidaxis, said outlet conduit having a vented gooseneck to maintain said fluid at constant level in said vessel, an inlet conduit secured to said downwardly extending arm and'having one end remote from said axis and the other end dispbsedsubstantially in said axis, a closed vessel secured between said tubes and connected to them, and means for counterbalancing the above parts andthe fluid normally contained therein.

11. A hydrometer comprising a pivoted frame provided with an upwardly extending arm and a'downwardly extending arm, an

outlet conduit secured to said upwardly ex tending arm and having one end remote from the pivotal axis of said frame and the frame provided with an upwardly extending arm and a downwardly extending arm, an

- outlet conduit secured to said upwardly extending arm and having one end remote from the pivotal axis of said frame and the other end disposed .SllbStitl'ltlflll in said axis, an inlet conduit secured to sai downwardly .therein.

extending arm and having one end remote from said axis and the other end disposed substantially in said axis, said inlet conduit terminating in an upwardly extending funnel and said outlet conduit terminating in a downwardly extending section, said outlet tube having a vented goose-neck to maintain constant fluid level, a closed vessel secured between said conduits and connected to them,-

and means for counterbalancing the above parts and the fluid normally contained 13. A Hydrometer comprising means for continuously measuring the weight of a constant volume of flowing fluid and means for 'cooperatlng with sald measuring means for continuously recording and automatically balancing said weight.

14. A h-ydrometer comprising a pivotally supported vessel for holding fluid, means by which a stream of fluid flows into and .out of said vessel without tendin to swing said vessel by reason of the kinetic force of said fluid,'means by which the volume of fluid in said vessel is kept constant, and adjustable means for counterbalancing said device and the fluid normally contained therein.

, 15.. A hydrometer comprising a pivotally supported vessel for holding fluid, connecting means by which a stream of fluid flows 1 into and out of said vessel without tending to swing said vessel on its pivot by reason of the kinetic force of said fluid, means by which the volume of fluid in said vessel is kept constant, and means for continuously indicating the weight of the fluid in said device.

In testimony whereof I aflix m signature. SIDNEY D. ELLS. 

